Butler High School - Magnet Yearbook (Butler, PA)

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THE SENIOR {MAGNET 15 Rag Doll and Black Cat Helen Burckhalter Said the little rag doll to the old black cat, “If I don't get out cf this package I'll choke.’’ “Now be patient, my dear,’’ said the wise old cat, For as soon as Jackie’s prayers are said, they will be here to get you out and place you among so many toys your head will swim. 1 have heard so much of Jackie, his family, and all because his aunt Jane made me; she talks all the time. She hoped 1 would take the place of the old Teddy Bear he has lugged to bed with him for more than a year. But now that you are here, you seem so very nice I’m afraid Jackie’s affections will be divided. 1 will tell you, little rag doll, a bit of my life. You see I am made from one of Aunt Jane’s stockings, that is why I'm so w'ise, I have traveled so far. Last summer 1 went out west where I stayed eight weeks. 1 even went up in an aeroplane, seeing wonderful sights. I fox-trotted and danced until I wore out my toe, then 1 was thrown aside until Aunt Jane contrived the idea of making me into a cat for Jackie dear. 1 am very glad she did for oh, if she had not, I would have been thrown to the rag man, and my life would have ended then. Now that 1 am here having you for a friend, 1 expect a wonderful time, don’t you, little rag doll?” “Your words cheer me, little black cat, for my life has been a sad one. 1 haven’t had any pleasures at all. 1 have had some wonderful experiences, too. I have seen many sights too terrible to tell, for you see the blue cloth out of which I am made adorned the back of a very brave French soldier. 1 low happy he was when his new’ coat he donned, so proud was he to fight for his own. He went out there and he never came back. He played the game. He.was true blue. His coat was sent to his little wife Yevonne. “She carried it about in her arms for days, his coat, that is all she had of him then. After many months, which seemed like years, your Americans came to fight for France. I low proud we were of your stalwart big men as they marched through our streets, armies of them. After that terrible war was over, one day there came to our house a handsome big American to purchase a doll. He paid for me what 1 thought was a big price, but he didn’t mind for 1 could see he thought Yevonne very fine. His cheerful manner made her so happy and gay it brought tears of joy to my eyes, for 1 loved her dearly, my little mistress Yevonne. One day she packed me away and went to bid him good-bye. I could not see them, but I heard every word and I know that he cares. So that’s my story, you old black cat, but listen they are coming. I hear a voice. The fine American who fought for France, who loves Yevonne and brought me here.” “Oh, that is the voice of Jackie’s Uncle Jim. You see he talked to Aunt Jane all the time she was putting my stuffing in. This is the house of their sister Nell, and we are Christmas presents for their little nephew, Jackie Kent. But hush, they are here!” “Really, Jim, I thought that child would never give in. He is so excited about Santy he couldn’t get to sleep at all so we will be very quiet in here. You unwrap all the toys while 1 trim the tree and we will scatter them about. It is wonderful what Christmas means to me since I have a little kiddie of my own to fuss about.” At last Uncle Jim lifted me out, just a little rag doll, but the look he gave me as he thought of Yevonne. Just for

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14 THE SENIOR iMAGNET he fights dis hoy in de mud. Noder mans way down de field he graba dat ball and run so fas’ as he can, but noder mans he catcha heem an’ maka him fall vera hard. He let go dat ball, yeh! It is too bad. Oder mans he’s jump on it. Den oder mans dey keepa dat ball. One big fella on oder side his talka de numbers lika Tony. One, two, t’ree tarns he talka dem numbers and dey fight. Tony he licka one, two, t’ree mans, yeh. It is fine, lie’s gon’a get data ball yet. 'Noder tarn dat big fella, his talka dem number. One oder fella he t’row back data ball an’ fella he grab it quick an’ run vera fas’. But my Tonv he’s watch alia tarn, yeh. One fella wit’ Tony he’s knock onea mans down. De oder fella he jump for to catch Tony, but Tony he fool data fella. 1 le’s get away quick an’ catcha dat man wit’ de ball. Tony he is good fella, he is. De man what runs round vera much lika Tony, but he don’ fight, he blowa de whistle lika—you know, lie’s go purdy fas’ all tarn, dats heem. lie t’ink Tony he’s purdy good fella, too, for he give Tony de ball. Dem peoples dey tink Tony is all-righta, too, an’ dey make de place fulla noise. It is purdy good, I holler, too. 'Noder tarn Tony he talka de numbers. It funny for to hear Tony talka de numbers—45, 24, 56—like dat. I canno’ talka dem numbers so fas’ as Tony, no. I geta dem tangled all wrong, yeh. But Tony he’s go toa de school. Tony is one vera good boy. De oder fellas dey fight vera hard but Tony he fighta so hard as dem. All-right, says dis fella what talka dem numbers, 1 taka dat balla myself. An’ he does. He graba dat ball vera quick an’ run so fas’ as he can. He knocks one fella down, pusha ’noder ina his face vera hard. Dat big fella he can run vera fas’. Tony he runs for to catch heem, but noder fella he is dere firs’. He licka dat mans vera hard. Dat ball it falls from his hand. Tony he graba dat ball vera quick an’ run oder way. 1 le foola one mans’. Noder mans jump ata heem but Tony he’s runna too fas’. He turns quick an’ fools ’noder mans. Den he run vera fas’ does my Tony. One, two, t’ree, whole lots a’ fellas try for to catch my boy. But Tony he is one vera good boy, he runna so fas’ as nobody can catch heem. He beata de whole biga bunch. It is no use for to run some more. Dat peoples tink my boy is one vera fine fella, de make vera mucha good tarn. Den some fella he talka dat man what blows de whistle good game for one day. My Tony is one vera fine boy, say dat coach fella, he beata dat footsball game. Yeh, Tony is alia tarn one good boy, 1 tella heem. Maybe he can beata some more footsball game yeh. Dat coach fella he says, yeh. Den 1 tella dis coach fella, maybe dat boy what say he will work in my store, he lika dis game, yeh? Well, I tella heem dat maybe 1 ain’t purdy old as 1 canno’ make de whole buiz .ness. Maybe dat fella can make de noise for my boy, yeh? Dat’s good. Dat coach man he is vera nice fella. He shake my han’ an’ tella me I’m a good sport like my boy. He smile vera much an’ ruba my Frankie’s head. Maybe he will grow big like Tony an’ maka de good footsball player. Yeh, Frankie is vera good boy like Tony. He lika dat games to, eh, Frankie? It is all vera good fun for Frankie. I le plays dat footsball game, sure.

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16 7 E SENIOR IM A G N E T an instant I was pressed to his heart. Here, Nell, it’s the doll I brought from France, and, by the way, I am going ovej-next month for Yevonne. They worked four hours to make everything fine. I was quite dazed by the beautiful tree. It didn’t seem possible to me that one little boy could have such a succession of mechanical toys. There was a bear, an elephant, a lion, a horse, in fact a whole menagerie. As 1 sat wedged in the top of one of his stockings, 1 glanced around and saw my friend sticking out of the other. Dear old black cat, I fear I have traveled far in vain, for among all these wonderful toys I feel so shabby and 1 know 1 will not be noticed at all. “Don’t worry, little rag doll, for I am sure you are wrong. We were not made in a big factory all dingy and dim. You were made by the loving hands of Uncle Jim’s sweetheart Yevonne, while 1 was made by darling Aunt Jane. As she twisted my tail and sewed me up tight she was thinking of Jackie so that I know that every stitch was a stitch of love. Don’t you think that places us in a different light? And besides after a child loves you for a long long time you become real. Oh, dear little cat, will it happen to me all at once?” “No, it doesn’t happen all at once, little doll. It will take a long time and that’s why it doesn’t happen to all these toys who break so easily. We will become shabby and loose in the parts. But these things don’t matter at all except to people who don’t understand. So good night little friend. I hope I have given you pleasant thoughts for your dreams.” Next morning quite early there came in with a rush a youngster just bubbling over with joy. Of all these toys, which do you think he loved best. The old black cat, the little rag doll. That night as he knelt by his bed, he held one in each arm. The little rag doll was almost too happy to sleep and so much love stirred in his saw dust heart that it almost burst. And into the shoe button eyes of the old black cat, there came such a look of wisdom and beauty that Jackie’s mother said as she tucked him in bed, “I declare if that cat hasn’t got quite a knowing expression. --------------b.h.s.----------- GOOD OLD BUTLER HIGH Rhea Cooper Eor good old Butler High, Who has always treated us right, Let’s give it a cheer, With all our main and might. Rah! Rah! Butler High. Eor good old Butler High, With its kind and loving teachers; They ought to give us a cheer, Eor they know we are some” peaches. Rah! Rah! January, 1924 An revoir” dear old Butler High, Eor you know we will ne’er forget, And hope you will remember always, The class of January, 1924. Rah! Rah! Butler High.